Trunk-tray.



P. H. SGHMELZBR.

TRUNK TRAY.

4 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 29,1911. 1,017,812. Patented Feb.20,1912.

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PAUL SCHMELZER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 P. C. MURPHY TRUNK COMPANY, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0F MISSOURI.

TRUNK-TRAY.

l'o att whom 'it may concern.' ,i

Be it known that I, PAUL H. SGHMELZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trunk- Trays, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to trunk trays.

One object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive trunk tray having adjustable partitions of novel construction which can be removed or arranged in operative position quickly and easily.

Another object is to provide a trunk tray which is so constructed that it can be repaired cheaply in case the partitions thereof become broken or displaced. And still another object is to provide a trunk tray having partitions which securely tie the sides and the-ends of the tray together.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of a trunk tray constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an en larged perspective view illustrating the means that holds the partitions in position; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view which also illustrates the construction of said means.

Referring to the ldrawings whichv illustrate the preferred form of my invention, l designatespthe ends of a trunk tray, and 2 the sides of the tray which are connected together in any suitable manner, the tray herein shown being provided with angleshaped corner-pieces 3 that are secured to the ends and sides of the tray, as shown in F ig. l. The tray is provided with a center partition 4 and a plurality of cross partitions 5 which are connected together and also to the sides and ends of the tray by means of novel construction. In the preferred form of my invention as 'herein shown, said means consists of substantially T-shaped heads A on the outer ends of the center partition and cross partitions whicli tit in correspondingly-shaped sockets B on the ends and sides of the tray, respectively, the inner ends of the cross partitions 4 also being provided with T-shaped heads A that fit in correspondingly-shaped sockets B Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 29, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

serial No. 630,168.

formed in the center partition 4. Each of` the heads A preferably consists of a strip or plate of metal bent or doubled in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3 so as to form a head 6 and a pair of laterally projecting flanges 7 arranged at approximately right an les to the head 6 so as to embrace the partition to which the device is connected. Fastening devices 8 which pass through said flanges 7 and through the partition secure the head A to the partition, and the pair of flanges 7 .are contracted or drawn together at a point adjacent the heads f 6 so as'to form a reduced shank or neck 9.

Each of the .sockets B is formed by a pair of vertically disposed plates 10 spaced away from each other, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to form a slot 11, and bent or offset slightly at 12 so as to form a socket which corresponds to the dimensions of the heads 6 on the partition, the plates 10 being retained in posi- `tion by means of fastening devices 13.

When the partitions are arranged in operative position, as shown i'n Fig. 1',the'

heads 6 on the ends of the partitions ie'behind the plates l0, as shown in Fig. 3,and thus securely tie the sides of the tray'to the center partition 4 whose ends are tied to the ends l of the tray. The partitions can be removed easily by merely moving them vertically so as to withdraw the heads A from the sockets B, and in case the partitions become broken it is a very simple matter to repair the tray because the means which retains the partitions in position consists of sheet metal devices that are detachably connected to the partitions and to the sides and ends of the tray.

The fabric C that forms the bottom of the tray and which covers the sides and ends of the tray hides the plates 10 from view, and the partitions arealso provided with Aa suitable covering that hides the portion ofthe flanges 7 which embrace the partitions, thus producing 'a neat construction and one which does not comprise corner-blocks arranged at the intersection of the center and cross partitions and at the points where said partitions join the ends and sides of the tray.

Having thus described my invention, /what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a trunk tray, a pair of vertically disposed metal plates connected to one of the vertical walls of the tray and spaced slightly away from each other so as toforni a vertical slot-,fthe edge lportions of said plates adjacent said slot bemg bent laterally away 5 from the vertical wall of the tray so as to form a' pocket, a partition; and a T-shaped' device on the end of the partition whose head lies in said a contracted nec ocket, said device having which lies in said slot and' laterally4 projecting Ranges which em- 10 brace the partltion.

In testimony whereofl hereunto ax my signature in the resence of two witnesses, this twenty fourt day of May 1911.

PAUL H.4 SCHMELZER. Witnesses: n

WELLS L. CHURCH, GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

